Elevator structure comprising interconnected conveyer sections



June 19, 1951 L. B. NEIGHBOUR ETAL 2,557,612

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE COMPRISING INTERCONNECTED CONVEYER SECTIONS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 5, 1946 INVENTOR. LEONARD B.NEIGHBOUR HOWARD C. ESBECK June 1951 a. NEIGHBOUR E'T'AL 2,557,612

- ELEVATOR STRUCTURE COMPRISING INTERCONNECTED CONVEYER SECTIONS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 5, 1946 INVENTORS LEONARD B.NEIGHBOUR HOWARD 0. E88, 0

Patented June 19, 1951 ELEVATOR STRUCTURE COMPRISING IN- TERCONNECTEDCONVEYER SECTIONS Leonard B. Neighbour, Moline, and Howard C.

Esbeck, Silvis, 111., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., acorporation of Illinois Original application April 5, 1946, Serial No.

659,944. Divided and this application September 26,1947, Serial No.776,338

Claims.

This invention relates generally to an elevator for handling materialand for delivering such material from one level to other levels. Moreparticularly the invention pertains to improvements in elevators of thetype shown in our copending application, Serial No. 659,944, filed April5, 1946, of which the present case is a division. 4

In the construction and use of elevators of the type referred to it isdesirable to provide an elevator trough or conveyor section ofrelatively great length so that the combined sections provide a troughthat may reach to relatively high levels for the purpose of deliveringmaterial, such as grain, corn, baled hay, etc., from the ground level tohigher levels, such as barns, cribs or other receptacles. At the sametime it is desirable to provide an elevator construction that may beeasily transported from one place to another and to this end it isdesirable to provide the elevator with a plurality of interconnectedtrough sections that may be extended for use in operation and that canbe folded for transport.

One of the principal difficulties incident to the provision ofinterconnected trough sections is that the joints between the sectionsare apt to leak when the elevator is used in the handling of grain orcorn or other material of a fine nature. According to our invention weprovide improved connecting means between interconnected trough sectionsand particularly provide an improved sealing means that eliminates thepossibility of leakage at the joint between the sections. Specifically,we provide the improved seal between the sections in the form ofoverlapping side-byside wall portions, one of which includes an elementengaging the other wall preferably in scraping engagement. It is anobject of our invention to provide means for adjusting the spacedrelationship between the overlapping walls so that the walls may bebrought closer together or farther apart to vary the associationtherebetween and thus to vary the sealing relationship so that aneffective seal is provided and so that at the same time the elevator ortrough sections are free to move between extended or folded positions.

Other objects inherent in and encompassed by our invention will becomeapparent as the disclosure progresses in connection with a preferredform of the invention as described below and as shown in theaccompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general sideelevational view showing the elevator. in operating position for thepurpose of delivering material from a lower level to a higher level;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the elevator arranged fortransport and connected to the drawbar of a tractor;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially along the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line5-5 of Figure 3 and showing the relationship between the overlappingwall portions of adjacent connected trough sections.

Although the improvements to which our invention pertains are shown inconnection with a portable elevator of the type primarily intended foruse in the handling of agricultural products, it should be understoodthat the basic principles of the invention have wider application.Accordingly, the present disclosure should be taken as illustrative andnot limiting.

The detailed structure of this particular elevator is shown in ourco-pending application referred to above. Basically and briefly thisstructure involves a longitudinal chassis frame l0 carried on a pair oflaterally spaced wheels I l at the rear end of the frame. In itsoperatingposition for the elevation of material, the forward end of theframe I!) is supported by a leg l2 so that the frame I0 is substantiallyhorizontal. The basic structure further includes an elongated maintrough section that is indicated in its entirety by the numeral l3, aportion of which adjacent its lower end is pivoted at [3a, on thechassis frame 10. The lower or receiving end of the main trough sectionI3 is designated by the numeral [4 and its adapted to rest upon theground. In the position shown in Figure 1 the main trough sectionextends upwardly and rearwardly to a discharge end (not shown). The maintrough section is provided with an endless conveyor l5 (Fig. 4) Thepower for driving the conveyor is here shown as being obtained from astationary gasoline engine It) carried on the chassis frame l0 adjacentthe carrying wheels I l A belt pulley I1 is carried by the main troughsection l3 adjacent its pOint of connection with the chassis frame l0and is driven by a belt l3 trained thereabout and about a flywheelpulley l9 driven by the engine IS. The elevation of the main troughsection may be changed by elevating or lifting and lowering structure,designated generally by the numeral 20. The details of this structureare shown and claimed in our co-pendin application referred to above.

The elevator structure further includes a second or hopper troughsection 2|, which is pivotally connected at its rear end to the lowerend l4 of the main trough section I3. In the use of the elevator in itsoperating position, the secondary or hopper trough 2| extendshorizontally forwardly from the main trough section l3, as shown inFigure 1. The pivotal connection between the trough sections i3 and. 2|enables the trough section 2| to be pivoted or folded upwardly orrearwardly as shown in Figure 2 for the purposes of minimizing theover-all length of the elevator when the frame is transported.

The forward end portion of the main trough section l3 includes a draftdevice, indicated in its entiret by the numeral 22, by means of whichthe elevator may be connected to a tractor or other draft vehicle, asshown in Figure 2. In the operating position of the elevator, as shownin Figure 1, the gasoline engine I6 is additionally supported by aretractable leg 23. When the elevator is transported both the legs l2and 23 are moved to retracted position. All of the structure set forthabove is shown in our co-pending application referred to above. Thedetails of the improvements forming the subject matter of this case willnow be described.

The lower end portion M of the main trough section l3 includes at eachside thereof a pair of upwardly extending side wall portions 24. Thesewalls are of course laterally spacedwith respect to the longitudinalextent of the main trough section l3. The secondary or hopper troughsection 2| also includes a pair of laterally spaced side walls 25. Thesecondary or hopper section 2| is pivoted to the main trough section Itby means of a transverse shaft 26 passing through the Walls 24 and 25,the walls 24 and 25 at each side of the structure being arranged inoverlapping relation (Figure Each of the walls 25 of the second orhopper trough section 2| is disposed inside the respective Wall 24 ofthe main trough section l3 and each of the walls 25 is provided with anoutturned portion in the form of a flange 2'! which is closelyassociated with the inner face of the proximate wall 24 of the troughsection l3. It is preferred that the relationship between theoverlapping wall portions 24 and 25 be in the nature of a frictional orscraping engagement to thus guarantee against loss of corn, grain orother fine material handled by the elevator.

The main trough section l3 includes at each side thereof a support inthe form of an angle member 28 (Figure 3). Each angle member isassociated with means for adjusting the lateral position of theassociated side wall 24. In the form of the invention illustrated, eachadjusting means comprises a tensioning device including a vertical rod29 the upper end of which is rigidly secured, as by welding, to an upperportion of the proximate wall portion 24. The lower portion of the rod29 is threaded at 36 and passes through an opening in the angle member23. The threaded portion of the rod carries a first nut 3| disposedabove the upper flange of the angle member and a second nut 32 disposedbelow said flange. Adjustment of the nuts 3| and 32 lengthens orshortens the rod 29 and consequently moves the associated wall 24laterally inwardly or outwardly toward or away from the flange 27 on theproximate wall 25 of the hopper trough section 2|. As best shown inFigures 4 and 5, the flange 2? on the wall extends substantiallythroughout the vertical extent of the wall. This arrangement provides acomplete seal in association with the proximate wall 24 of the maintrough section I3.

The lower end of the endless conveyor l5 of the main trough section 53includes a transverse shaft 33 carrying a pair of laterally spacedsprockets 34 about which chains 35 of the conveyor i5 are trained. Theshaft 33 extends laterally outside the trough section |3 at the lefthand side thereof (as viewed in Figure 3) and carries a driving sprocketdriven by a chain 35a which is connected in any appropriate manner witha shaft 36 on which the belt pulley I1 is mounted. In this manner powerfrom the engine I6 is transmitted to the chains 35 of the conveyor IS.The right hand end of the shaft 33, as viewed in Figure 3, carries asmall driving sprocket 3'! in vertical alignment with a sprocket 38fixed to the transverse shaft 25 that provides the pivotal connectionbetween the trough sections Hi and 2|. The sprockets 3i and 38 may beappropriately interconnected by a driving chain 39, as shown in Figure3, a portion of the chain being broken away to show the angle member 23at that side of the elevator structure. Since the pivot between thetrough sections l3 and 2| is about the axis of the shaft 26, there willbe no lengthening or shortening of the chain 39 as the hopper section 2|is folded or extended. In Fi ures 1 and 2, the sprockets 31 and 38 andchain 39 are enclosed within a shield 39a.

The transverse shaft 26 has keyed thereto in laterally spaced relationwithin or between the side walls 25 a pair of sprockets 40 about whichare trained laterally spaced chains 4| providing a secondary conveyorindicated in its entirety by the numeral 42 (Figure 4). The conveyor 42travels in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4 over a bottom 43 whichcross connects the side walls 25 0f the trough section 2|. The bottom 43terminates at 44 just short of the extreme end of the conveyor 42, asdefined by the shaft 26 and associated sprockets 40. The end 44 of thebottom 43 is curved downwardly (Figure 4). This part of the conveyor 42just described is directly above the lower end of the conveyor l5 of themain trough section i3. This trough section is provided with a bottom 45which at its lower end adjoins a generally semi-cylindrical boot 4Bcurving about the lower end of the conveyor IS. The upper end of theboot 46 terminates in a reverse flange 4'! lying just below and inspaced relationship to the curved end 44 of the bottom 43 of thesecondary trough section 2|. The flange 4'! has a curvature about theaxis of the shaft 26 and a transverse sealing element 48 is disposedacross the conveyor sections and is carried by the secondary troughsection 2| in the space between the curved end 44 of the bottom 43 andthe flange 41 of the boot 46. The association between the element 48with the portions 44 and 41 is such as to maintain a tight relationshipbetween the hopper sections when the sections are in the operatingpositions shown in Figures 1 and 4. The boot 46 also serves as means forsupporting the draft device 22 previously described.

Folding of the secondary trough section 2| for transport is facilitatedby a pair of links 49 and .56 connected respectively to the troughsections 2| and I3 and associated with assist or helper springs 5|.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that We have provided animproved articulately interconnected elevator structure in which thetrough sections are adequately sealed against leakage of corn, grain orother fine material. One sealing means comprises the adjustablerelationship between the overlapping wall portions 24 and 25 of thefirst and second or main and hopper troughs l3 and 2|. The othersealcomprises the structural relationship between the flange 4'! of theboot 46 and the curved end 44 of the bottom 43 of the hopper trough 2|in association with the transverse sealing element 48. The adjustabilityof the wall 24 with respect to the flange 21 on the associated wall 25provides for the maintaining of a relatively tight engagement betweenthese wall portions, and the association between the wall portions maybe adjusted so that a tight seal is afiorded while at the same timeproviding for free movement between the articulately connected sectionsfor the purpose of facilitating movement of the hopper section withrespect to the main section I3 for transport.

We claim:

1. In an elevator, a pair of articulately connected conveyor sectionsarranged generally end to end and one having a pair of spaced wallslying in side-by-side overlapping relation to a pair of spaced walls ofthe other section, and means on one section for adjusting the walls ofone section toward and away from the walls of the other section forvarying the tightness or looseness of the overlap-ping relationship.

2. In a portable elevator, a main trough having a pair of sheet metalvertical side walls and conveying mechanism therein, a hopper troughpivotally mounted on said main trough for vertical swinging movementabout a horizontal axis between an operating position on the ground anda raised transport position, said hopper trough having vertical sidewalls overlapping the sheet metal walls and carrying sealing means invertical sliding engagement with said sheet metal walls, respectively,to prevent leakage therebetween of material being conveyed, and meansconnected with one wall of each associated pair of engageable walls forshifting the same toward the other wall and for selectively fixing thesame in shifted position to provide for maintaining a sealed jointtherebetween.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provisionthat said sealing means comprises a flange on each of said hopper wallsdisposed in vertical scraping engagement with the adjacent main troughwall.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provisionthat said shifting means comprises a pair of inclined braces extendingdownwardly and outwardly from said sheet metal walls, brackets mountedon said main trough, to which said braces are connected, and means forshortening and extending said braces.

5. In a portable elevator, a main trough having a pair of sheet metalside Walls and conveying mechanism therein, a hopper trough pivotallymounted on said main trough for vertical swinging movement between anoperating position on the ground and a raised transport position, andsealing means between said troughs to prevent leakage of material beingconveyed comprising a 6 sealing vane disposed transversely under saidhopper trough and projecting downwardly therefrom, and a transverselyextending pan mounted on said main trough and curved about the axis ofpivotal movement of said hopper to receive said vane and cooperate withthe latter in various relative positions of said troughs to preventleakage therebetween.

6. In an elevator, a first elongated elevator section having side wallsand a bottom; conveyor means in said section including a rotary elementtransversely of the section; means providing generally a continuation ofthe bottom and including a pan curved about said rotary element andopening upwardly; a second elevator section having a discharge endarranged to discharge material into the first section substantiallyabove said pan; means providing side walls and a bottom in said secondsection; means pivoting the second section on the first section forvertical positioning of said second section about a transverse axispassing generally through the discharge end of the second section; andmeans providing an articulate seal between the bottom of the secondsection and the aforesaid pan to seal said sections against leakage ofmaterial during operation of the elevator with said second section inany of its vertical positions.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6, with the further provisions thatthe side Walls of the first section are respectively in overlapping andsealing relationship with the side walls of the second section.

8. In an elevator, a first elongated elevator section having side wallsand a bottom; conveyor means in said section including a rotary elementtransversely of the section; means providing generally a continuation ofthe bottom and including a pan curved about said rotary element and opening upwardly; a second elevator section having a discharge end arrangedto discharge material into the first section substantially above saidpan; means providing side walls and a bottom in said second section;means connecting the second section to the first section for positioningof said second section relative to the first section about an axispassing generally through the discharge end of the second section; andmeans providing an articulate seal between the bottom of the secondsection and the aforesaid pan to seal said sections against leakage ofmaterial during operation of the elevator with said second section inany of its vertical positions.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, further characterized in that thesealing means includes an extension element on the bottom of the secondsection cooperating with the pan of the first section.

10. In an elevator, a main troughhaving a pair of spaced, longitudinallyrunning side walls including inner and outer faces, and conveyingmechanism therebetween; a secondary trough including a portion havingspaced side walls providing straight extensions of the walls of the maintrough and connected to the main trough for angular movement from afirst position to a second position about a single axis transverse tothe troughs, said walls of the troughs being arranged in parallelism sothat each wall of one trough has'a portion at its outer face overlappingand slidably engaging a portion at the inner face of the respective wallof the other trough in a plane normal to the aforesaid axis as thesecondar trough is moved between its first and second positions toprovide means substantially sealing the connection between the troughsagainst leakage of material being conveyed; means for moving each pairof closely slidably associated walls laterally toward and away from eachother to adjust the engagement therebetween comprising a tensioningdevice including an extensible and retractable member engaging a wallfor moving said wall laterally toward and away from its associated wall;and means for fixing a selected position of adjustment.

LEONARD B. NEIGHBOUR. HOWARD C, ESBECK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Paul Dec. 1'7, 1895 Adams June27, 1905 Wallace Aug. 8, 1905 Michener July 27, 1909 Everitt Oct. 18,1910 Gall Aug. 10, 1920 Bixby Jan. 11, 1927 Peyton Apr. 30, 1935

